A Tropical Bohemian Wedding in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico

It was fate when Allison Kucharczyk, a content creator and interior designer, and Isaac Rochell, an NFL player for the Cleveland Browns, crossed paths on December 14, 2014. At the time, Allison was a sophomore at Michigan State University, but she decided to visit her sister and her sister’s then-boyfriend at the University of Notre Dame. As an undergraduate student at the school, Isaac was out celebrating the end of the semester. “We both ended up at the same party, and after bumping shoulders, we decided that a quick interaction was not enough,” the couple reflects. “Hours passed, laughs were had, and the moment proved that we made a connection that would change our lives.”

Five-and-a-half years later, Allison was recording her first podcast as a guest on “Better Half,” hosted by the Los Angeles Chargers. “Towards the end of the podcast, Isaac got down on one knee to officially be able to call me his ‘better half,’” Allison recalls. After she exclaimed “yes,” the duo popped Champagne and made their way over to a hotel room Isaac had reserved at the Paséa Hotel & Spa. Once Allison entered the room, she saw an outfit hanging on the window. “The week prior, he had gone shopping with two of my good friends and picked out engagement party outfits from Free People,” Allison remembers. “He even went as far as having my friend, who has a similar body type, try them on to make sure they would fit me!”

After changing into the designated attire, Allison took a moment to call her friends and family members to tell them the exciting news. Next up on the agenda? A bash on the beach! “Isaac worked with a local planner to create the engagement party of my dreams, and he invited all of our friends,” Allison reminisces. “He set up food and drinks, and we celebrated throughout the night.”

Since the pair got engaged in 2020 during the pandemic, they encountered countless obstacles while planning. The two settled on a destination wedding in Mexico, but due to travel restrictions, they had to make all of their decisions remotely. “We were never able to see anything in person or even try the food until the day of our wedding,” the bride shares. “The typical planning process I had always envisioned—full of tastings and venue visits—wasn’t going to happen.”

However, with Allison’s laid-back approach, she was able to enjoy the process despite the challenges. “I had a carefree attitude when it came to our wedding,” she says. “Of course, I wanted it to be beautiful, but all of the tiny details stressed me out, so I gave our planner a lot of freedom.” Luckily, the couple found a planner, Candace Hernandez of Fawn Events, that they instantly connected with. “I didn’t want to be the one deciding every single detail, and I fully trusted her with turning our vision into a reality,” Allison explains. 

On April 11, 2021, Allison and Isaac said “I do” in front of 60 guests at Acre Resort in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Read on to uncover the breathtaking details from their special day, as planned by Fawn Events and photographed by The Times We Have.

Since Allison is an interior designer, she had a clear vision in mind for her nuptials. “We envisioned a romantic, tropical, and boho wedding,” she illustrates. To establish this aesthetic, the twosome chose a neutral color palette and had their venue decked out in palms and plants. Minimalist invitations with elegant calligraphy helped set the tone. 

While getting ready with her bridesmaids, Allison sported a white lace robe with sheer detailing. Her girls donned beige linen robes with white stripes and tassels. To kick off the festivities, the whole squad sipped on mimosas. 

“I wanted to look like myself,” Allison says of her beauty look. Since the bride never had a makeup trial, she opted to do her own glam. “I used all of my own makeup products, and it turned out so natural,” she remarks.” For her hairstyle, Allison selected beach waves and had her locks tied back in a half-up, half-down fishtail braid. “I wanted to add a statement piece into my hair due to the simplicity of the back of my dress,” she illuminates. Dip powder nails with tips coated in white polish was the finishing touch.

To ensure a successful wedding dress shopping experience, Allison booked her entire day with appointments. But, once she tried on this fit-and-flare gown with beaded and lace detailing from Essense of Australia, she canceled the rest. “The moment I put it on my body, I knew it was the one,” the bride gushes. “It hugged me in all of the right places, felt so comfortable, and made me feel like a bride! I always imagined having a simple dress with no sparkle or bling, but once I put on the dress, everything I had pictured went out the window.” Allison accessorized with diamond studs, a tennis bracelet from Isaac, and a beaded bracelet, which she also gifted her maid of honor. 

Allison’s bridal party rocked mismatched floor-length gowns from Birdy Grey in shades of pink, white, and beige. “I wanted them to choose their own dress styles since everyone’s body is different, and I wanted them all to feel confident,” Allison explains. “I liked the more organic and less uniform look.” After changing into her dress, the bride shared a first look with her biggest support system. 

Allison made her wedding dress even more special by adding her own custom touch. The bride had the gown altered to create a backless design, swapped the beaded straps for satin straps, and removed the mesh fabric to uncover a plunging neckline. “I didn’t try on my dress with all the alterations made until the day of my wedding while in Mexico,” she notes. 

The groom intended on wearing a beige custom linen suit for his big day, which didn’t exactly pan out. “Unfortunately, while traveling from Los Angeles to Mexico, the suit was put down somewhere in the Los Angeles airport and forgotten,” the couple reveals. “Our wedding planner helped us find a replacement suit to match what the groomsmen were wearing.” The final look was a beige suit from The Black Tux, which Isaac paired with a white tie, a watch from his best man, and a Cuban link necklace from Allison.

Isaac and his groomsmen spent the morning toasting the day with a bottle of Dom Perignon, which was an engagement gift. “Sharing this bottle, which symbolized all the work that went into the beautiful relationship that I have with my wife and the wedding planning process, was the best part,” Isaac shares. 

Even though Isaac had to scramble to find an alternative outfit, he and his groomsmen all looked sharp in their matching beige suits from The Black Tux, brown belts, and brown dress shoes. They also decided against wearing a tie. “We wanted that relaxed boho look, and a tie felt too formal for us,” the couple notes. 

Before the ceremony, the bride and groom savored some alone time during their first look. “Our first look was so incredibly special,” the couple reflects. “We both cried upon seeing each other for the first time. We were able to take a second and process all of our feelings together. That time was precious. It was 15 minutes of just us.”

For a boho-inspired look, Allison carried a wrapped bouquet of fresh and dried foliage in muted hues.

The duo had their gift table decorated with rattan lanterns, lush floral arrangements, and an acrylic card box featuring their last name. 

Set against a backdrop of palm trees, the entire ceremony setup was a boho bride’s dream. Pampas grass, dried palm leaves, and white flowers covered the space, from the aisle markers to the rectangular arch. 

After Allison’s father escorted her down the aisle, the pair recited personalized vows. “It was surprising to us both when they sounded so similar to each other,” the couple exclaims. One moment, in particular, stood out to Allison during the ceremony. “One of my favorite memories from our wedding day was when our friend Matt, who married us, told us to take a look at all of the people during our ceremony,” the bride recounts. “Taking a second to look at all of our loved ones who made the effort to travel all the way to Mexico to celebrate our wedding was incredible. We felt so much love.”

The newlyweds rejoiced after being pronounced husband and wife. Not only was their wedding a celebration of their love for one another but also for their guests. “Isaac and I love to have fun and be surrounded by the people that mean the most to us,” Allison says. 

While letting their newlywed status sink in, the bride and groom snapped photos on their venue’s grounds. It was also an opportunity to take in the scenery. “We found the venue on Pinterest while looking for wedding inspiration,” Allison and Isaac state. “Originally, we were planning on having our wedding in California, but after seeing photos of Acre, we couldn’t resist.”

A major highlight for the couple was being able to spend so much time with their inner circle and watch their friend groups intermix. “Everyone from our wedding was able to fly in two days early,” the twosome elaborates. “And by our wedding day, friends from the groom’s side were friends with the bride’s side. It was so special.”

Once the guests made their way over to the reception site, they found their names on a lucite seating chart, complete with a neon sign, dried palm leaves, and pampas grass. 

In addition to the classic wine, beer, and spirits menu, the pair served two signature cocktails. The “Ella” was a vodka drink infused with passionfruit and pineapple juice, and the “El” was a twist on a spicy margarita. The bar’s hanging rattan lanterns and dried herbage complemented their earthy aesthetic perfectly.

“Acre is such a beautiful venue,” Allison expresses. “The landscape and foliage bring the space to life. The need for decorations was so minimal because the venue itself was breathtaking.” To let their setting truly shine, they had wooden tables and chairs scattered across the blue mosaic tile floor. Neutral taper candles, organic floral arrangements, and a gauzy runner enhanced their tablescape.

The couple had each place set with gold and white flatware, crystal glassware, woven placemats, fringe napkins, and menu cards affixed with a tassel. 

Since their ceremony arch was such a statement piece, the pair repurposed the backdrop to frame their special seats. They had their sweetheart table wrapped in a white linen tablecloth and embellished with assorted candles and flowers. 

For their first dance, the newlyweds twirled around the dance floor while their DJ played “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur.

After noshing on a global-inspired dinner filled with local ingredients, the duo cut into a two-tier white cake adorned with a cascade of blooms and topped with their new last name. Puff pastries also were served as a late night treat.

Allison and Isaac spent the rest of the night singing and dancing with those who mattered most to them. Making those memories made their wedding everything they could have dreamed of. “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” Allison advises other couples planning their nuptials. “Looking back at our wedding, it’s not the table settings or the silverware color that we remember, but the time spent with each other and our loved ones.”